Hat



March 10, 1931.

E. WA BULLARD HAT Filed Jan. 12, 1929 ggg 'IIII'IIIn m.\

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Patented Mar. i0, 1931 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT OFFICE EDWARD W. BULLARD, F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORTO PACIFIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT COM'PANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ACORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA HAT Application led. January 12, 1929. SerialNo. 331,991.

without discomfort.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a hat of thecharacter described of improved means for securing a lining fordetermining the position of the hat on the head of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a hat of thecharacter described of improved means for securing a sweat band.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a hat of thecharacter described of a retaining ring secured adjacent the edge of thecrown for holding the crown in shape, and provided with notches tofacilitate fitting of the ring on the crown.

This invention possesses other objects and valuable features, some ofwhich will be set forth in the following description of the inventionwhich is illustrated in the drawings forming part of the specification.It is to be' understood that I do not limit myself to the showing madeby the said description and drawings, as I may adopt varying forms ofthe invention within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 -is a side elevational view of the hat, portions of thestructure being omitted and portions being shown in section to disclosethe constructiOn clearly.

Figure 2 is a plan view, on a reduced scale,

of the blank from which the crown of the hat is formedf Figure 3 is anelevational view of a portion of the retaining ring, illustrating thenotches ,in the lupper edge of the ring for facilitating fitting of thering on the crown.

In terms of broad inclusion, the hat of this invention comprises a hatcrown constructed of light, non-metallic material strong enough toprotect the wearer from injury by thrown or falling objects, such asrocks, bricks, tools,

hot rivets and the like. Preferably, the crown is made of a singlesheetof material having peripheral notches to facilitate formation ofthe crown, and a ring is secured to the crown for holding it in shape,the ring being provided with notches to facilitate fitting of the ringon the crown. A lining which is preferablyadjustable isheld be# tweenthe ring and crown, and a sweat band is secured to the ring.v i

In greater detail, the hat crown is constructed from a single sheet ofrelatively thin material which is light enough not to make the hatcumbersome and uncomfortable, and still possesses suflicient rigidity toprotect the wearer from injury from falling objects. Hard, compactedsheet fiber, substantially 3/82 of an inch in thickness, is preferablyused, because it is tough, chemically inert, and a non-conductor of bothheat and electricity.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the shape of the crown 3 before it issteamed and pressed into shape is substantially an ovoid blank punchedor otherwise cut from a sheet ofthe 'hard fiber. The blank is provided`with notches 4 and 6 at .the intersection of the periphery with themajor axis 7 and minor axis 8 respectively, to facilitate forming theblank into the desired shape.

After being steamed for about fifteen minutes, the fiber becomessuflciently pliable to be readily pressed into the form of the crown,with the notches substantially closed. A flexible retaining ring 9,.preferably of hard compacted fiber similar to the material of the crownbut not as thick, and larger than the head size of the wearer, issecured to the edge of the crown to hold it in shape with the notches 4and 6 substantially closed. The upper edge of the ring is preferablyslotted to provide a plurality of notches 11, so that the ring may befitted snugly on the crown.

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' extends loosely over the edge of the crown g is preferably passed onlythru the portion of the lining on the outer surface of the crown, sothat a snubbing action obtains when the hat is subjected to a blow.

For determining the position of the hat on the head of the wearer, thelining may be adjusted by a draw string 16 woven thru the nettingadjacent the upper edge which is hemnied to prevent unraveling. The hatis also provided with a leather sweat band 17, which extends looselyover the lower edge of the ring 9 and is securedon the outer surface.ofthe ring by means of stitching 18, the inner portion of the band 17projecting loosely into the crown and covering the lower edge thereof. y

A brim or visor is provided on the hat. Preferably the brim comprisestwo sections 19 and 21 of the same material as the crown,

sewed or otherwise secured in overlappingv relationship to the ring 9 bymeans of stitching 22. p

To render the hat waterproof, the substantially closed notches l and 6are covered by strips 23 and 24, preferably of adhesive tape, andextending from side to side and from front to back respectively. Similarstrips 26 arranged in overlapping relationship cover the respectivejunctions of the brim, retaining ring aand crown, and ends of strips 23and 24. The outer surface of the crown and both surfaces of the brim arecovered with a seal coating of waterproof, non-conducting material',such as a paint with an asphaltic base. In order to provide ventilation,the crown may be provided with a plurality of small apertures 27. A

From the preceding description, it is seen that the `specific attachmentof the lining provides a strong and durable construction which canwithstand the force of blows on the hat when worn. The holding of thelining between the ring and crown, the rib on the low* or edge of thelining and resting on the upper edge of the ring, and the stitchingpassing thru the ring, lining and crown, all cooperate to produce theabove described results. Also, since the lining extends loosely over theedge of the crown, a snubbing action ob' tains when the hat is subjectedto a blow, thus relieving strain on the lining attachment. The sweatband extends loosely into the crown and is not attached to the lining 5therefore, there is no point of weakness as would obtain if the liningwere stitched directly to the upper edge of the sweat band.

Although this invention is embodied in the form of a hat, it may beapplied to a ca helmet, or any other form of protective head) gear.

I claim:

1. The combination with a hat crown and a ring secured adjacent/the edgethereof, of a lining held between the ring and crown, and a sweat bandsecured to the ring independent of the lining.

2. The combination with a hat crown and a ring secured adjacent the edgethereof, of a lining held between the ring andl crown, and a sweat bandextending loosely over the lower edge of the ring and secured on theouter surface thereof.

3. The combination with a hat crown and a ring secured adjacent the edgethereof on the outside of the crown, of a netted lining extending overthe edge of the crown and held between the ring and the crown, the loweredge of the lining being provided with a rib resting on the upper edgeof the ring.

4. The combination with a hat crown of stift1 material and a ringsecured adjacent the odge thereof on the outside of the crown, of alining extending over the edge of the crown and held between the ringand the crown, the lower edge of the lining being formed with aretaining rib.

ln teatimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD W.' BULLARD.

